WASTEWATER POLLUTION
More than 80 percent of world’s wastewater flows back into the environment without being treated or reused, according to the United Nations.
Wastewater is used water. It includes substances such as human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps, chemicals, fertilizers, heavy metals, road salts, debris, fertilizers, pathogens, and toxic sludge. In homes, this includes water from sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets, washing machines and dishwashers. Wastewater also includes storm runoff. Although some people assume that the rain that runs down the street during a storm is fairly clean, it isn’t. Harmful substances that wash off roads, parking lots, and rooftops can harm our rivers and lakes.
The terms ‘wastewater’ and ‘sewage’ are regularly used interchangeably, however there are differences between both. ‘Sewage’ is considered a subset of wastewater. The only difference is that wastewater can come from anywhere while sewage only comes from the toilet. While this may sound definitive, the lines are still blurred somewhat due to the fact you can put a lot of things down the toilet. Therefore, to be more accurate, sewage is wastewater mixed with human waste, domestic or otherwise.
More than 80 percent of world’s wastewater flows back into the environment without being treated or reused, according to the United Nations. In the United States, our nation’s aging and easily overwhelmed sewage treatment systems release more than 850 billion gallons of untreated wastewater each year. Furthermore, an estimated 1.2 trillion gallons of industrial waste, untreated sewage and storm water are dumped into U.S. waters each year. Source: EPA
Recreation Close to Home Dock Jump Credit Mark Wimmer via Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC)
3.5 Million Americans get sick each year after swimming, boating, fishing, or otherwise touching water they thought safe.
Healthy adults may never realize that yesterday’s swim caused today’s cough, diarrhea, or ear infection. Young children, their grandparents, and people already weakened by illness are more likely to become seriously ill or die. Scientists believe as many as 3.5 million Americans get sick each year after swimming, boating, fishing, or otherwise touching water they thought safe. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites (including worms and protozoans), are the types of pathogens in wastewater that are hazardous to humans. Fungi that can cause skin, eye, and respiratory infections also grow in sewage and sewage sludge.